Re: IIH Step 1 Spiritual

["Rawn Clark" <rawnclark@...>]

Dear Jeromy,

>> 1. are 10 minutes of breathing what is recommended in the morning
and evening for the rest of your life? <<

Actually, breathing *all* the time is recommended. ;-) ;-) ;-)

In reference to magical breathing however, it's really up to you how
often and for how long you practice it depending upon your personal
needs.

>> 2. when concentrating on one thought for ten minutes, what are some
examples? I've just been thinking visually of an apple, sometimes
bringing other senses into it and sometimes repeating the word apple
over and over again. also, I often do something with the apple. like
cut it up and eat it and create a new apple. use many different types
of apples, make the apple spin around, etc. does this follow how Franz
Bardon intended for the exercise to be practiced? <<

No. One-pointedness is *not* about visualization. Bardon clearly
stated that you are to focus upon a "thought or train of thoughts". I
recommend that if you can't come up with a suitable thought, then choose
something from the theory section to focus upon.

>> 3. when doing part b. is it better to just hold the thought for as
long as you can and quit once you've been disrupted (perhaps clock
the amount of time before the distraction). or, to just go 10
minutes and just try to block disruptions the best you can. (perhaps
use the beads to count how many distractions you have) <<

Bardon recommended the latter but either will work so long as you have
some mechanism by which you are actively working toward increasing your
time without interruptions.

>> 4. do part a. until you can do it competently for 10 minutes.
then, change to part b. and do it until you can do it competently
and hold the thought/idea for 10 minutes. last do part c. until,
you can hold a complete vacancy of mind for 10 minutes. <<

Yes.

>> 5. if I'm on part b. what is the difference between just doing part
b. and doing part a. followed by part b. immediately afterwards in the
morning and evening. (I found I went deeper in part b. when I did both,
but I also felt it was too much and I digressed on the frequency of my
practice). <<

Perhaps you could try a shorter part a followed by a full 10 minutes of
part b?

My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
22 Nov 2004
rawnclark@...
rawn@...
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